Are you lost when it comes to security systems? Do you feel overwhelmed about where you would even start? If so, knowledge is power. Read this article to learn more.
After you purchase a new home, change the locks. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. To make sure you’re the only person that can get into your home, contact a locksmith. If you lose your keys, you should do the same thing.
Be sure that your home is always occupied. You can purchase timers that can control your household electronics such as lights, TVs and radios. This will make your home look like someone is in it. This is a great way to keep your home safe and avoid burglaries.
Do you have an outside dog? This is a good spot for keeping your spare key. Hook your key to the dog’s collar in a place that is shielded from view. Especially if pets don’t like strangers, this can be a useful way for having easy access to your house.
Have your dog protect the spare key. In order to make this work, your dog either needs to stay outside or have access to a pet door. Just place your key on your dog’s collar.
When you’re picking out home security equipment and services, don’t forget to ask your friends and family for help. They may have had experiences with certain companies and can lead you in the right direction. Making a great choice is important, so this advice will come in handy.
Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. Most systems could sound an alarm when someone enters the home. This can be valuable to parents with small children as they are made aware their child has opened or closed a door.
In the summer, remove all the dead trees from your yard. This sort of thing is a fire hazard in the heat of summer. Keep your family and your house protected by regularly clearing out your yard waste.
Valuable Items
See what your local police department offers in terms of home protection programs. Your local police department will help you with preventive measures, inspect your home and show you how to mark your valuables so they can easily be found. Contact the police department to see if they have something similar.
Get a safe to protect your valuable items. You need this because you would not want burglars to see these valuable items around in your house. Keep your safe in your basement or attic to make it hard to find.
Use motion sensors on exterior lighting. These lights will turn on if anyone walks too closely to your home. This is a good way of knowing who comes near your home and keeps you safe if you ever come home late. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.
Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Hiding it beneath the doormat is very common and most intruders will look there. A better place to keep your key is inside your outside dog’s collar.
You could hide some valuables within your walls. This doesn’t require tearing into your walls, of course. You can find pre-cut areas in your walls that can be used. You could removed the wiring from an electric socket that you aren’t using, and stash jewelry inside it.
Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. There are differences between large cities and homes located in the countryside. Still, many believe that rural environments are less frequently targeted by burglars.
You should not hide your spare key under your mat or inside a plant box. While you may need to prepare if you have a spare key, it is wise to choose ways that do not increase the risk of a criminal gaining entrance to your home. Burglars are familiar with these hiding spots. The wisest course of action is to leave a spare key with a trusted friend or a reliable neighbor.
Purchase an alarm system that has a few “bells and whistles;” you don’t just need protection for your doors. Intruders can enter through your windows too. The alarm and monitoring system should be set for all windows and doors. This helps ensure your family stays safe.
Before you let security company representatives into your home, check their ID. Thieves may say they are from a certain company to get into your home. This is dangerous for your family and your possessions. Be deliberate in preventing hazards.
Plug a rechargeable flashlight into an outlet in each room of your house in the event of power outage. Flashlights are important for letting you navigate your home in the dark. Your whole family should be trained on the proper use and maintenance of flashlights.
If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. There might be hidden costs or other things you should know about. These are costs you’ll want to avoid.
Maintain the exterior areas in your house so they are well lit. Thieves like to commit crimes when no one can see. Install a light in any area a potential intruder can get into your home. This includes doorways and porches, the garage, and windows on ground floors which may invite intruders.
Keeping the home illuminated during evening hours helps keep criminals away. That’s because they want to remain hidden. If you have your home lit up, then you have made it hard for burglars to hide and rob your home. If you want to stay secure, keep your house brightly lit.
If you get home and see the door is slightly open, don’t go inside by yourself to investigate. This is a delicate situation as the burglar might still be in your home. Call the cops and let them do the initial walk through.
Consider your personal needs for safety and your security risks prior to looking for security systems. Although they can be very helpful, security systems aren’t always necessary. Depending on your neighborhood and your household, you might well be better served by a reliable guard dog or self-defense training than by high-tech gadgetry. Ensure that you have considered all your options before making a final decision.
A wireless home security system could be just the option you are looking for. A wired system might cost less, but they can require extensive rewiring work and may be rendered useless if the power fails. Wireless options are easy to install, need less maintenance and are not dependent on the home’s power source.
Whenever you purchase some expensive item, don’t place the empty boxes right outside your home. This will just alert criminals to the fact that you have expensive items in your home. When you empty the boxes, cut them up and throw them away so that burglars do not see them.
Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. This is a way people who are casing out your house can tell whether you are home or not. If the flier stays in place, the burglar knows that the homeowner is out on vacation.
If you keep a spare key outside, make sure it is not kept in an obvious location. If you place it under a rock, a good robber will find it. Many people also know to check under the welcome mat. Talk to a neighbor or someone that you know to hold your key. If none of these options are possible, try to think of an unusual hiding place.
When standing in the street, can you see your house numbers? Make sure they are large in case emergency personnel need to find your house. Thankfully, you can right this wrong cheaply and quickly.
Program your lights to turn on and off at random intervals with a timer. You will not have to expend as much energy taking care of the lights, but you will still be able to make sure your house is illuminated when you want it to be.
Hopefully, you now have a better idea about home security. Use this advice and tips to devise your plan and use home security in your own home. You should make sure you put serious thought into this matter.
Common security problems in homes include sliding glass doors. It’s easy to break into a sliding glass door by just lifting it up and shaking it. A piece of pipe or wood (e.g. a hefty broomstick) cut to the proper length and used to block the door channel can provide affordable security if you don’t have an alarm system. This can keep your door tightly closed and make it tougher to force wide open.